Braiding machine



G. PERRON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed June so, 1922 s sgeets-sheet 1 V// a NOct. 20,1925. 1,558,039

G. PERRON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed June 30. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 20,1925.

G. PERRON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 G.PERRON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ()ct-v 20,1925- G. PERRON BRAIDING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT 0 F F [C GUSTAVE rnnnon, or" rears, FRANCE.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may G07tff6772-l Be it known that I, Gnsrnvn Patron, acitizen of the Republic of France, residing at 9 Avenue Taillade, Paris,Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements inBraiding Machines, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of braidingmachines used in the manufacture of laces of various kinds. It makes itpossible to build a machine, which unlike the existing machines of thesame kind, works at a high speed and gives a great output, withoutaffecting the quality of the goods, even when using materials of smallstrength such as very fine silk or artificial silk.

The increase in the speed of the machine is obtained owing to the systemof spindles used and to the arrangement of the latter in the machine,which arrangement makes possible a large number of passages of spin dlesper minute, owing to the facility of placing the spools and of threadingthe end; of threads to the system of regulating the tension of eachthread and finally to the provision of an electrically-operatedautomatic throwing out of gear mechanism.

In a machine designed according to the present invention, the spindledoes not circulate by sliding on the table, but. on the contrary, isconstantly supported by movable parts called horn gears which drive itin their movement. The switching or shunting of each spindle at thepoints of passage between the horn gears is produced automatically owingto parts secured either to the table or to the spindle of the said horngears.

The spindle is moreover held in a perfect manner so that even under theaction of the traction or pull exercised by the thread, there is no riskof its jamming during its movement, a drawback which is very frequent inthe existing machines.

The said spindles are finally mounted in such a manner that, whatever bethe point of the machine Where one of the spindles is stopped, it can betaken off and put on again very easily and very quickly.

The spool holder mounted on each of the spindles, is built so as toenable each spool to be put in place extremely quickly, and it SerialNo, 571,922.

comprises a lever device for stretching the thread and regulating thetension, which acts in a reliable manner at high speeds.

The accompanying drawings given by way of example show a machine builtaccording to the present invention, which ma chine has 25 spindles butcould of course have a diiferent number of them, according to the kindof goods to be manufactured.

Figure l is a plan of the said machine,

Figure 2 is an elevation,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing more particularly theautomatic clutch control of the machine and the construction andmounting of the horn gears.

Figures 4 and 4 are detail views showing on a larger scale the mountingof a spindle on a nut.

Figures 5 and 6 show the two methods in which a spindle is switched orshunted.

Figures 'T9 are views in plan of the parts .used for switching.

Figures 10 and 11 show on an enlarged scale in front elevation themounting of the spool holder and of the tension lever, the various partsbeing shown in two different positions.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the latter device.

Figure 13 shows in perspective the part of the same device called alocking pawl.

The machine comprises a frame 1 in the shape of a cup, provided withfeet or liX- ing lugs 2 and supporting the whole of the parts. 011 thesaid frame are mounted vertical pins 3 on which rotate the horn gearsintended to operate the spindles. These gears comprise a body at towhich is secured a toothed wheel 5 by means of studs 6. Each body isprovided with two flanges-an upper flange '7 and a lower one 8, in theedge of which, opposite each other, are provided recesses or notches 9and 10 having the shape of an arc of a circle. The number of thesenotches is determined by the kind of work to be done. In any case, thesaid number is such that when two adjoining gears rotate, the respectivenotches of the said two gears are successively brought opposite eachother so as to form a perfect circle, in the interior of which is placedthe rod 11 of the foot of the spindle.

The foot of the spindle comprises a shuttle 12, a rod 11 and a guideplate 13. The shape of the shuttle 12 is such that it can circulate inthe track 20 (Figures and The sides of the shuttles are formed on thearcs of circles, having respectively the same centers as the abovementioned pins 3 of two adjacent horn gears (Figures 5 and 6). The saidshuttle 12 rests on the upper flange 7 of the horn gear.

The rod 11, as already stated. is mounted in the recesses 9 and 10. Theguide plate 13 is secured to the shuttle 12 and is used for switchingthe spindle. During the operation of the machine. the foot of thespindle is held in place by a washer 1t and a spring 15 which rests onthe one hand on the above washer 1st and on the other hand on a pin 16with a notch. The latter pin has the shape shown in Figure at, whichshape prevents any accidental detachment under the action of vibrationsof the machine. In Fig. 1 only two spindles. or carriers, are indicatedin order not to com plicate the drawing any more than is necessary. Inpractice the number oi these spindles will be determined by thecharacter of the work to be performed.

A plate 17 suitably cut away around the lower flanges 8 of the horngears is secured to the frame, and is adapted to hold and guide thelower part of the foot of the spindle, whilst a table 18, cut out in asuit able manner and supported by columns 19. forms round the upperflanges 7 of the horn gears the track 20 for the passage of the shuttles12.

To the table 18 are secured. opposite the switching points of thespindles. parts 21 of a suitable shape which act on the guide plates ofthe spindle in order to guide or direct them (Figures 1 and 5). In thiscase, he spindle passes. during its travel. from one gear to another. Inthe event of its being necessary to cause the spindle to rest on thesame gear. the proper direction is imparted to the spindle by a. fixedor stationary part 2 secured to the spindle 3 01 the gear. which partacts on the guide plate 13 ot the foot of the spindle. Thecorrespondingpart 21 is then taken oii' or raised to an inoperativeposition.

The spool-holder comprises a bracket (Figures 10- 12) secured to thespindle foot by means of two screws which also hold the guide plate 13.

On the said bracket is secured a pin 24 on which is placed the spool 28.This spool is held in place by a spring blade 25 which can swing at in avertical plane at right angles to the spindle 24. The said spring restson a shoulder 27 provided at the end of the pin 24:, so that the spool28 is held between the bracket 23 and the spring 25, without however thelatter being able to rub against the disc 29 of the spool.

To the bracket 23 is pivoted at 30 a of of stretching or tension lever31, the shape which can vary according to the kind raw material to heused, and which acts the thread owing to the helical spring secured atto the said lever; and at to the bracket.

The hooking to the bracket 23 of the end of the said spring could beeffected. at one of the different orifices 3 provided on the projectionof the bracket The lever 31 is guided in its movements by the walls of agroove 23 of the bracket A locking pawl 36. shown in perspective inFigure 1 5. is also pivoted at 3'7 to the bracket 23. This pawl iscontrolled by the action of a spring 38 secured, on the one hand, to thepawl at 31). and hooked on the other hand into one of the orifices 4-0of the projection +21 of the bracket 23.

This locking pawl has an extension or tail 42 which enga es with notches43 provided in the flange of the spool 28 which is a metal spool.

The bracket 23. the tension lever 31 and the locking pawl 36 areprovided respectively with an eyelet 45, 4E6 and at? for the passage ofthe thread coming from the spool.

The driving of the various parts of the machine is eti'ected in thefollowing manner:

The gear wheels 5 rotating about the fixed pins 3 are in engagement incouples. The last of the series is in engagement with a pinion 48 keyedto a vertical spindle Gn the latter mounted one of the elements of aclaw clutch 50. the other element of which is car ied by the devicewhichtransmits the driving power to the machine.

In the drawings. the said device comprises two bevel pinions 51 and thelatter being secured to a short spindle to which is secured the drivingpuller These elements are su 'iported by a suitable part 55 secured tothe trruie. The claw coupling 50 is conil'tiilOil by r. 4 oi a lever 56pivoted at 57. he above -ntioued spindle 4-9 operates also the drivingapparatus mounted on the bracket secured to the table.

This apparatus. of any desired type, comprises for instance a worm 59and a set of wheels 6O. 61. G2 transmitting the movement of the spindle-19 to the sleeve 63. The lace which is formed in the operatlon or themachine passes over the rotating sleeve 6? and is delivered thereby toany suitable winding device.

The bracket 58 comprises an arm 64, at the end of which is mounted thecentral roller on which is eiiected the braiding of the lace.

The electrically operated device for throwing out of gear comprises thefollowing parts (Figure 3) The lever 56 has a tenon 66 which acts IOU ona rack or cam 67 of a small lever 68 pivoted at (if) to a part securedto the frame of the machine. A spring 71 has the tendency always tobring back the lever (58 and to keep i: in contact with the tenon 66. Tothe said lever (38 is pivoted at 72 a plate 'T-l, one end T3 of whichcan come within range of a linger T-t provided on the fixed element ofthe coupling 50, and the other end 73 oil" which strikes the part ot' alever in pivoted at "IT to the part 70.

This lever 6 carries a soft iron plate 78 arranged opposite anelcctro-niagnet '79 and is cont-rolled by a spring 80. The lever 66 isalways pulled upwards into the disenga ed position by a spring 81. Inthe engaged position ot' the lever 56, the latter is in contact with aspring blade 82 carried by the frame but insulated from the latter. Theconductors of the electro-magnet terminate, one at the spring 82, andthe other at one of the poles of any desired source of electricity.

A metal ring 83 is mounted above the table 18 concentrically with thelatter, so that the tension levers 31 come into contact with the samewhen the threads break.

This ring is insulated from the mass or body ot the machine andconnected to the other pole of the source of electricity.

The working of the loom is as Qtollows:

The lever 56 being in the engaged position, the movement of the drivingpulley 54-. is transmitted to the pinion 48, and the gear wheels 5 causethe horn gears to rotate in a uniform manner. The spindles locked in thenotches 9 and 10 of said gears move in the track 20. When a spindlereaches a switching point. it must either pass from one gear to the nextone (Figure 5), or remain on the. same gear (Figure 6).

In the former case (Figure 5), the spindle being driven by the righthand gear, passes to the left hand nut. owing to the action exercised bythe part 21 on the pointed rear part o1 the guide plate 13. whichresults in the spindle being slightly turned about itself. and in thepoint 12 of the shuttle 12 being switched or turned in the direction ofthe portion 20 of the passage or track 20.

In the second case (Figure 6), the part 21 being removed. the part 22secured to the pin 3. will act on the corresponding part of the plate13. so that the spindle will turn about itself and the point 12 willengage with the part 20" of the passage 20.

Instead of taking off the part 21, it can be raised above the table 18by means of a stay so that the plate 13 can "freely pass under it.

It will be understood that by giving the plate 13 a suitable shape suchas 13' or 13" (Figures 8 and 9), and by combining these various modelsof plate with the parts 21 and 2;, it would be possible to vary at willthe travel of the spindles, according to the work to be done.

The spool 28 on being put in place, is held by the part 12 of thelocking pawl 36. The thread is carried successively through the eyelets4 16, 45 and the said eyelets could be moreover split eyeletsfacilitating the threading of the ends of the threads.

ll hen the thread is pulled, the lever 31 is brought nearer to thecentre of the spindle, and on coming into contact with the locking pawl36, acts on the latter (Figure 11), swings it, which results indisengaging the part 42 from the notches 43 of the disc or flange etaotthe spool, and in releasing the latter. The thread is then unwound, butit is at once stretched again by the lever 31 which, under the action ofits spring 82, is moved away from the pawl 36. The latter, under theaction of the spring 38, resumes its position and locks the spool. Afterwhich, the withdrawal of the thread continues, the tension beingexercised by the lever 31: the said tension could be regulated bymodifying the spring 32.

It the thread breaks. the spring 32 pulls violently back the lever 81and presses it against the circular riin 83. The electric circuitcontaining the electro-niagnct 79 is then closed through the mass of themachine.

When the circuit through electromagnet '79 is thus closed lever 76 isattracted against the tension of spring withdrawing its lower end fromthe ta l 73 0t lever 73 which rotates bringing ii V end 73 into the pathof cam finger 74. Cam finger '74 will then push lever 73 to the right.looking at Fig. 3, rotating lever 68 connected therewith about the axis69 and withdrawing latch 67 from tenon 66 on lever 56. Lever 56 beingthus released will rotate under the action oi spring 81 the cross pin8-"! sup 'iorted thereby operating to reset lever 72 with its tail e11-gaging under the end or" armature lever 76. magnet 79 beingsimultaneously deenergized because ot the breaking of its circuit atcontact spring 82. When the thread has been repaired lever 56 is movedmanually to clutch spindle 4-9 to gear 51. tenon 66 in this movementsnapping under latch 67, thus holding lever 56 in clutch engagingposition.

In addition to the advantage of being able to work at a high speed, thismachine has other advantages, the chief among which are as follows:

Any spindle. whatever be the place at which it is at the moment. can bequickly dismantled owing to the facility of access to the pin 16, accessprovided between the table 18 and plate 17.

The gear wheels are completely concealed which eliminates all risk ofaccidents.

Furthermore it is possible to vary the travel of the spindles withrespect to the horn gears not only by means of switching parts orpoints, but also by modifying to a certain extent the proportion betweenthe diameters oi the gear wheels driving the nuts, without changing theposition of their axes. in that way, two adjoining nuts can rotate at aditierent speed, and in such a case they comprise a diilerent number ofnotches. which numbers are however fairly close and generally (litteronly by one.

The safety oi working oi iinally ensured owing to the electric throwingout of gear. The looln is much more noiseless than the existing looms.and its wear is very small. as ample lubrication can be easily obtained.I do not claim herein the means tor auto matically throwing the machineout oii' operation and the spool holder and associated devices. The 11cans for throwing the machine out of operation is claimed in mydivisional application, Serial No. 676.81%, filed Nov. 2%. 19:23; andthe spool holder and associated devices are claimed in my divisionalapplication, Serial No. 676.813, filed Nov. 2%, 1923.

What I claim is:

1. In a braiding machine, a table, a series of horn gears rotatablethereon. means for rotating sad gears in unison, spindles driven by saidgears. a guiding piece secured to each spindle. stationary guidesadapted to coact with said guiding pieces and direct said spindles "fromone horn gear to the adacent horn gear, and other stationary guidesadapted to coact with said guiding pieces and maintain the spindles onthe horn gears with the machine is which they are associated when suchcoaction takes place.

2. In a braiding machine. a table, a series oi horn gears rotatablymounted thereon. means for rotating said gears in unison. spindlesdriven by said gears. a guiding piece secured to each spindle,stationary guides adapted to coact with said guiding pieces to directsaid spindles from one horn gear to the adjacent horn gear. andalternative stationary guides adapted to coact with said guiding piecesto maintain the spindles on the horn gears with which they areassociated when rich coaciion takes place. said guides being movable toinoperative positions, whereby the paths of the spindles may be changedat will.

3. In a l. 'aiding machine. a table. a series of vertical pins linedthereon, a horn gear rotatable on each ot said pins. means for rotatingsaid horn gears in unison, a plate secured over said table and cut awayaround said horn gears to form circular tracks having a common p rtionbetween said gears spindles driven by said horn gears having shuttlestravelling in said tracks, a guiding piece secured to each spindle abovesaid table, guides secured on said table adapted to coact with saidguiding pieces to rotate said spindles and direct said shuttles intoadjacent tracks. and other guides secured on said pins adapted to coactwith said guiding pieces to rotate said spindles and direct saidshuttles into the same tracks in which they are travellin in testimonywhereof I atiix my signature.

GUSTA i' E lliltlit) X.

